This
matter is before the court for judicial review of a final
decision of the defendant Commissioner of Social Security
Administration denying Plaintiff's application for
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as provided for in the
Social Security Act. Section 205(g) of the Act provides,
inter alia, "[a]s part of his answer, the [Commissioner]
shall file a certified copy of the transcript of the record
including the evidence upon which the findings and decision
complained of are based. The court shall have the power to
enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a
judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of
the [Commissioner], with or without remanding the case for a
rehearing." It also provides, "[t]he findings of
the [Commissioner] as to any fact, if supported by
substantial evidence, shall be conclusive. . . ." 42
U.S.C. §405(g).

The law
provides that an applicant for SSI must establish an
"inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity
by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment which can be expected to last for a continuous
period of no less than 12 months. . . ." 42 U.S.C.
§416(i)(1); 42 U.S.C. §423(d)(1)(A). A physical or
mental impairment is "an impairment that results from
anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities
which are demonstrable by medically acceptable clinical and
laboratory diagnostic techniques." 42 U.S.C.
§423(d)(3). It is not enough for a plaintiff to
establish that an impairment exists. It must be shown that
the impairment is severe enough to preclude the plaintiff
from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Gotshaw v.
Ribicoff, 307 F.2d 840 (7th Cir. 1962), cert. denied,
372 U.S. 945 (1963); Garcia v. Califano, 463 F.Supp.
1098 (N.D.Ill. 1979). It is well established that the burden
of proving entitlement to disability insurance benefits is on
the plaintiff. See Jeralds v. Richardson, 445 F.2d
36 (7th Cir. 1971); Kutchman v. Cohen, 425 F.2d 20
(7th Cir. 1970).

3. The claimant does not have an impairment or combination of
impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of
one of the listed impairments in 20 CFR Part 404, Subpart P,
Appendix 1 (20 CFR 416.920(d), 416.925 and 416.926).

4. After careful consideration of the entire record, the
undersigned finds that the claimant has the residual
functional capacity to perform light work as defined in 20
CFR 416.967(b) except that the claimant can stand and walk in
combination for up to four hours but can sit for up to six
hours in an eight-hour workday. She should never climb
ladders, ropes, or scaffolds; only occasionally climb ramps
and stairs; and only occasionally balance, stoop, kneel,
crouch, or crawl. She should avoid concentrated exposure to
extreme heat, cold, and humidity; as well as fumes, odors,
dust, gases, poor ventilation, and other pulmonary irritants.
She should avoid even moderate exposure to hazards such as
unguarded machinery and unprotected heights. The claimant is
limited to simple, routine tasks, and brief and superficial
interaction with coworkers and supervisors, but she should
have no work with the general public.

5. The claimant has no past relevant work (20 CFR 416.965).

6. The claimant was born on July 18, 1963, and was 50 years
old, which is defined as an individual closing approaching
advanced age, on the date the application was filed (20 CFR
416.963).

7. The claimant has a limited education and is able to
communicate in English (20 CFR 416.964).

8. Transferability of job skills is not an issue because the
claimant does not have past relevant work (20 CFR 416.968).

9. Considering the claimant's age, education, work
experience, and residual functional capacity, there are jobs
that exist in significant numbers in the national economy
that the claimant ...

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